Human Rights Council Advisory Committee 
BACKGROUND RELEASE

19 February 2015 

The fourteenth session of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee will take place from 23 to 27 February 2015 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

During the session, the Committee, a body of 18 independent experts serving as a think-tank to the United Nations Human Rights Council, will work on requests addressed to it by the Council, consider new developments and discuss follow-up to reports submitted to the Council.

On Monday, 23 February, the Advisory Committee will open its session at 11 a.m., elect officers and adopt its agenda and programme of work.  The Committee will then proceed to discuss requests related to attacks against persons with albinism and human rights in post-disaster and post-conflict situations.  On Tuesday, 24 February, the Advisory Committee will discuss the negative impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights, human rights and unilateral coercive measures, promoting human rights through sport and the Olympic ideal, and local government and human rights.

The discussion on local government and human rights will continue on Wednesday, 25 February.  The human rights impact of the activities of vulture funds is scheduled for discussion that afternoon, and the following morning, on Thursday, 26 February.   On Thursday afternoon the Committee will consider follow-up to reports submitted to the Human Rights Council, discuss its methods of work and consider its annual programme of work, including new priorities.  On Friday, 27 February, the Advisory Committee will meet in private until 11 a.m., followed by a public meeting in which it will adopt its report for the session, including action taken by the Committee, then conclude the session in the afternoon.

Please note that the deadline for the submission of draft actions is noon on Thursday, 26 February. 

Documentation relating to the fourteenth session, including the agenda and draft programme of work, can be found on the Advisory Committee’s webpage.

Background

The Advisory Committee is a body of 18 independent experts who support the work of the Human Rights Council. It was established in 2008, pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, to provide studies and research-based advice, as requested by the Council, and meets twice annually. The Committee’s work is implementation-oriented and follows thematic issues linked to the mandate of the Council, namely, the promotion and protection of all human rights. It interacts with States, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations and other civil society bodies.

Membership

The membership of the Advisory Committee conforms to the following geographical distribution guidelines set out in its establishing resolution: five members each from African and Asian States; three each from Latin American and Caribbean States, and Western European and other States; and two members from Eastern European States.

Following is the list of members of the Advisory Committee and expiration dates for their respective terms of office:

Saeed Mohamed Al Faihani (Bahrain) 2015; Mohamed Bennani (Morocco) 2017; Laurence Boisson de Chazournes (France)          2017*; Mario L. Coriolano (Argentina) 2015; Laura-Maria Crăciunean (Romania)        2017; Hoda Elsadda (Egypt)         2016; Karla Hananía de Varela(El Salvador)          2016; Alfred Ntunduguru Karokora (Uganda) 2016*; Mikhail Lebedev (Russian Federation) 2016; Kaoru Obata (Japan) 2016; Obiora Chinedu Okafor (Nigeria) 2017*; Katharina Pabel (Austria)        2015; Anantonia Reyes Prado (Guatemala) 2017*; Changrok Soh (Republic of Korea) 2017; Ahmer Bilal Soofi (Pakistan)     2017*; Imeru Tamrat Yigezu (Ethiopia) 2015; Yishan Zhang (China) 2016 and Jean Ziegler (Switzerland) 2016.

* Member serving second term

Programme of Work

Monday, 23 February

11 a.m.   Opening of session, election of officers, adoption of agenda, organizational and other matters.
Discussion on attacks against persons with albinism.

3 p.m.     Discussion on attacks against persons with albinism (cont’d).

               Discussion on human rights in post-disaster and post-conflict situations.

Tuesday, 24 February

10 a.m.     Discussion on the negative impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human
rights.

                Discussion on human rights and unilateral coercive measures.

3 p.m.      Discussion on promoting human rights through sport and the Olympic ideal.

Discussion on local government and human rights.

Wednesday, 25 February

12 p.m.     Discussion on local government and human rights.

3 p.m.       Discussion on the activities of vulture funds and the impact on human rights.

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For use of the information media; not an official record

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